no one, including the Admin Team, on this community should be assumed to have medical training of any sort.

Everyone is only speaking from their own experience, that of friends/family or other people they may have spoken to.

People MAY be able to evidence some of their information by linking to research or reliable websites, or quoting from well researched books and if at all possible this should be done when making 'definite' statements.

Just because something worked for you, this categorically does not mean that it will work for everyone, or indeed anyone, else! Please can everyone remember that in everything that they post.

Everyone is entitled to have their opinions listened to and respected, this does not mean that everyone has to agree with them, but please keep arguing to a minimum and personal snipes and attacks should be avoided at all costs.

We have Posting Guidelines which are there to aid with the smooth running of the site and the comfort and safety of everyone.

Please can everyone take a moment to read (or re-read) the Guidelines.

But as highlighted in a recent post where advice given has gone badly wrong, some members may not be computer savvy enough or mentally up to navigating the forum to find out and understand the information as given above.

On a daily basis we see members given specific treatments and dosage advice when nothing is known of that member other than what has been written in their post or possibly in their profile, there could be medical/drug contraindications or complications that they themselves are not aware of so in following advice from a random person they may be putting themselves at risk.

It should be possible to put a disclaimer at the top of each post so everybody is aware that replies are not from medically trained people unless stated otherwise.

I completed my profile but when I clicked to enter it, nothing happened. When I went to leave the page a message came up asking if I was sure I wanted to leave without posting. Don't know what I was doing wrong, but I tried and tried to post it and nothing happened.

I don't know if anyone else has had this happen to them. It just might explain why there are so few profiles posted.

Is there a way to send something to members that states this, that they have to acknowledge? For example, when I sign up for anything apple, they make me read and check a disclaimer before proceeding. Though I don't remember if this was already being done when I signed up.

When someone signs up to Thyroid UK Support, they are sent a welcome message. In that message is a link to our Posting Guidelines, which they are asked to read before they participate. Of particular relevance to this post are these:

9. People Posting and/or answering on the site should not be assumed to be health professionals.

10. Posts, Answers and Comments posted on the website should be designed to support, not replace, medical advice.

Unfortunately we don't have any way to ensure anyone reads them, or even a tick box to say they have read them.

I'm quite sure the vast majority of people do not even read the welcome message itself, let alone the guidelines

In case anyone reading this is wondering, the Posting Guidelines are here

reference info and recommendations written by members, Also I assume there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between having HYPO/HYPER Thyroiditis and the AUTOIMMUNE type of the condition. Not everyone has the auto immune type do they? There is a difference in blood tests and or readings I think, from what I have read and learning about the subject - it's getting the doctors to do the tests initially that is the biggest problem, especially when autoimmunity means we have or are producing antigens!

I also assume, it could mean that those who only have the ordinary thyroid problem and have stayed on Levethyroxine only, eat a healthy diet and have a healthy lifestyle, which means not drinking regularly or too much alcohol also!

I try to remember to always, I hope , emphasise Im writing about 'what worked or not' for me and urged others to do their own research on websites, like I did and found, like drugs.com or labtestsonline, plus others. yes it's good to ask questions of others, I e said before I'll say again, it's TUK that put me on path to finding out about all the subsequent health problems I've had.

I agree with the post, and yes I would hesitate to recommend anyone to eat or buy this or that! I shudder with horror when I see users writing they are going to order this or that online when sometimes they dont appear to understand that just going off into the unknown and swallowing this or that, could do all sorts of things to them, which may have an effect on a different organ, not just the Thyroid!

There are too many suggested links on search engines that you could go into, where the site makes all sorts of claims their product will do this or that - before you know it this anonymous site, has your bank card details, the product could be made up of talc and a few toxic chemicals or not - or you don't receive the product. I urge everyone to carefully look at websites like that before making any hasty or rash decisions to buy!

Perhaps people do get what they want or expected but if not, I would urge that they do come back on here and tell everybody if they bought from a duff or worse Website and if the product purchased worked for them or not!

Absolutely, when I spoke to my GP on a phone consultation, I mentioned that I felt better with 50mcg of Levo as some of my symptoms were Improving and when she reduced it to 25mcgs they came back, although she agreed to increase the dose back up to 50mcgs because at that dosage my TSH was still in the normal range. The last comment she made was that she would probably feel better on 100mcgs of Levo but that doesn't mean it would be a good idea as her blood result would show a TSH below the normal range. I despair....

I think we all understand this but, at times when we feel desperate we do tend to forget. I know when i ask for help it really is only because i am desperate for understanding from those on this post and also for some insight from those that may have been suffering similar symptoms. It doesn't hurt to be reminded of these guidelines though. I sometime's think I would be quite distressed if i didn't have this Forum to relate to.

Me too, despite my previous comments and queries! I basically tend to follow /read Admin suggestions most, but also taking note of what other members say.

Sadly what I didn't get much of an answer to was the different aspects of Thyroidism and being autoimmune, I just read last night that autoimmunity is connected with PBC, this is why I am confused! Too many symptoms can be similiar to both.

Dosing up on extra Vit's and/or minerals might be good for the Thyroid,but not so good for the liver. I suggest TSH blood tests might be right or wrong for the thyroid, but if my Autommunity stems from PRIMARY biliary cirrhosis (I'm the one calling it PBC, because the doctors havent decided what or why, although they have discounted the 2 usual and more common reasons) and I also now know I need specific testing for antigens In the liver) T cells again if I remember correctly, relative to the organ not the gland!

Which is why it's worth considering other chronic conditions, people with Thyroid problems, also have. Something doctors Should be doing and aren't!

When I joined I took it as a given that the people posting here were those with rich personal experience and not necessarily medical qualifications. The welcome message merely confirmed this. It would be very bizarre to take advice from the forum, however valuable and useful it may be, as if it was from a doctor.

But keep replying to our questions everyone - it's so helpful and I hope one day to be able to offer advice, once I've secured a diagnosis and successful treatment!